Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 June 1894 — Wilkins Won His Case. [ARTICLE]

Wilkins Won His Case.

Mr. Sergeant Wilkins once defended a breach-of-promlse case for a singularly ugly little man, which he told the defendant, after reading his brief, must be “bounced” through. And the Sergeant did bounce it through in a truly remarkable manmr. “Gentlemen of the jury,” he said, at the close of a most eloquent speech, “you have heard the evidence for the plaintiff; and, gentlemen of the jury, you have seen and admired that most bewitching plaintiff herself. Gentlemen, do you believe that this enchanting, this fascinating, this captivating, this accomplished lady would for one moment favor the advances or listen with anything save scorn and indignation to the amorous protestations of the wretched and repulsive homunculus, the deformed and degraded defendant?” His client looked up from the well of the court and piteously murmured: “Mr. Sergeant Wilkins! Oh, Mr. Sergeant Wilkins!” “Silence, sir!” replied the Sergeant, in a wrathful undertone. “Gentlemen,” he continued, bringing his first down heavily on the desk before him, “do you think that this lovely lady, this fair and smllingcreature, would ever have permitted an offer of marriage to be made to her by this miserable atom of humanity, this stunted creature, who would have to stand on a sheet of note paper to look over twopence?” The jury at once gave a verdict for the defendant